“Kay?”

“Mm?”

“I… Um. I need to tell you something.”

“Mm?”

“…You are listening to me, aren’t you? Because I really really need you to listen to me right now.”

“‘m listenin’, El. Keep talkin’.”

“I love you.”

“Mmhm- Wait, what?”

Kay blinked, rolling over and fixing the blanket-covered shape lying next to her with a blurry-eyed stare which was equal parts confusion and sheer bloody panic. 

“Say again?” And, when the other girl didn’t immediately respond, ” ’cause I thought y’said-“

Ella propped herself up on one elbow, took a deep breath, and closed her eyes. “I said, I love you.”

“That’s- yeah, that’s what I thought y’said.” She bit her lip. “Fuck.”

There was a short, awkward pause. Then Ella said, very quietly, “I have to admit, that’s not entirely the reaction I was expecting.”

[Author’s note: Short and sweet, this time around.]